Resort Management

Western State Colorado University’s Resort Management program goal offers unique educational opportunities creating a brand and style of hospitality and tourism services known as "Western Hospitality."

Throughout the program, students gain hospitality and tourism management education, innovation, and applied research and practical industry experiences.

What Will You Learn? What Skills Will You Acquire

Students in Western’s RM program function not only in hotels and restaurants settings but also in outdoor resort environments. Students apply these skills and competencies at venues throughout the Rocky Mountains as well as in a global context.

Students learn the fundamentals of service—whether it is analyzing occupancy trends for a resort, tracking an organization’s carbon footprint, planning activities, closing a sale, or basics like suggesting a trail run or starting up a snowmobile.

Beyond the Classroom

"Western Hospitality" finds its application in the College’s Hospitality Club which reaches out to local tourism providers with service assistance for food contract providers, restaurants & hotels, local outfitters and dude ranches, and tourism offices.

Local and international internships and research expand students’ understanding of the day-to-day operations of the industry. Western partners with and serves a network of stakeholders that include alumni, industry leaders, the Gunnison Valley and Western community. Whether participating in a classroom-based research project or an internship, students gain the necessary skills to solve the business challenges they will face in the industry or in graduate school.

Internship Categories

Ski resorts in the Rockies and around the globeDude ranches in the Rockies & Safari Lodges in AfricaFine-dining restaurants everywhereAll hospitality Start-ups and entrepreneursLodges/Inns/B&Bs/Hotels at any quality levelLocal & international hospitality chainsGuide services in any environmentChambers of Commerce/Destination Marketing Organizations anywhereNon-hospitality businesses operating in a local hospitality driven economy

Courses

FOR REQUIRED COURSES AND DEGREE PLANS, VISIT THE OFFICIAL UNIVERSITY CATALOG.
This is a list of courses offered by Western State Colorado University. To ensure the courses you need are offered during the current semester, please visit the current university catalog at http://www.western.edu/catalog. To determined the courses required for your major, check the "Majors and Minors" tab for your area of study.

BUAD 150 - INTRODUCTION TO HOSPITALITY (3 credits)

An introduction to hospitality management, including historical developmental patterns, current business trends, and future international expectations. Current job market, working environments, personal risks, and rewards are explored.

BUAD 337 - HOSPITALITY LAW AND RISK MANAG (3 credits)

Provides an awareness of the rights and responsibilities that the law grants to or imposes upon a hotelkeeper and illustrates the possible consequences of failure to satisfy legal obligations. Also included is risk management as a means of mitigating exposure to lawsuits and fines. Prerequisites: BUAD 150; BUAD 210; or instructor permission.

BUAD 345 - CONSUMER BEHAVIOR (3 credits)

Utilizing theories from the behavioral sciences, this course provides an in-depth examination of the individual customer learning and decision-making processes, segmentation, as well as culture, subculture, and social class relationships with marketing. Students develop an understanding of consumers' shopping behavior, utilization of different marketing channels, perception of products, and reactions to advertising and other selling methods. Prerequisites: completion of Base Curriculum; BUAD 270; or instructor permission.

BUAD 350 - HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT (3 credits)

Provides students with an understanding of the functions, content and challenges of Human Resource Management (HRM) in organizations today. Insights will be developed on basic dimensions of HRM such as recruitment, selection, performance management, rewards and retention, as well as particular challenges concerning strategic HRM and global environments. Emphasis is placed on how the complexities of HRM relate to students' past and future experiences as members of organizations. Prerequisites: BUAD 309 or COTH 202 or instructor permission.

BUAD 363 - BUSINESS AND THE ENVIRONMENT (3 credits)

A focus on the impact on the environment of human presence and absence. There is a consideration of various 'green practices' that result in both positive environmental impacts and cost savings to industry, and examination of governmental initiatives regarding various business practices and their expected impacts on the environment, on businesses' bottom lines, and on consumers. Course material emphasizes videos, readings,and guest lectures. Prerequisite: completion of Base Curriculum; or instructor permission.

BUAD 482 - HOSPITALITY OPERATION MANAGEME (3 credits)

An integration of management functions learned in previous classes into a workable approach to profitable resort operations. Students are encouraged to take this course during their last semester; graduating seniors are given priority in enrollment. Prerequisite: completion of Base Curriculum; BUAD 331; BUAD 332; BUAD 334; BUAD 337; BUAD 360;or instructor permission.

BUAD 491 - STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT (3 credits)

The formal analysis of an organization's macro and industry environment; its mission and goals; and strategy formulation, implementation, and control. This is a capstone course which integrates the studentâ€™s knowledge from the areas of accounting, finance, marketing, and management. Students are encouraged to take this course during their last semester; graduating seniors are given priority in enrollment. Prerequisites: completion of Base Curriculum; BUAD 309; BUAD 333 or 350; BUAD 360; and senior standing.

ROE 398 - PROGRAM PLANNING W LAB (3 credits)

Equips students with a variety of program-planning methodologies and skills. Emphasis is placed on the planning, organization, implementation, and evaluation of recreation programs. Theories are applied in an experiential setting. Prerequisites: ENG 102 with a minimum grade of C- and completion of at least 30 credits; or instructor permission.